JUDGMENT

1. The judgment, dtd. 16/3/2011, in Special Sessions Case No.39 of 2008, on the file of the Court of Special Sessions Judge for trial of offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (POA) Act-cum-IV Additional Sessions Judge, Kadapa (for short, 'the learned Special Judge'), is under challenge in this Criminal Appeal filed by the appellants/accused Nos.1 and 2.

2. The parties to this Criminal Appeal will hereinafter be referred to as described before the trial Court, for the sake of convenience.

3. The Special Sessions Case No.39 of 2008 on the file of the Court of Special Judge, Kadapa arose out of committal order in PRC No.18 of 2008 on the file of the Court of Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Jammalamadugu (for short, 'the learned Magistrate') pertaining to Crime No.6 of 2008 of Peddamudiam Police Station, Kadapa District registered for the offences under Ss. 447, 427 and 392 R/w. Sec. 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, 'the IPC') and Sec. 3(1)(iv)(v)and (x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (for short, 'the SCs and STs Act') .

4. The case of the prosecution, in brief, according to the averments in